Mermaids, pickles and a 'big, bad Belgian quad.' Guide to Cape and Islands craft breweries
In honor of National Beer Day — April 7 for those celebrating — we've rounded up some of the breweries on the Cape and included brews Cape Codders and tourists alike just have to try.
Cape Cod and the Islands have at least seven breweries. Try a pint or taste several at once with a flight in Falmouth, Martha's Vineyard, Dennis, Provincetown, Hyannis and Mashpee.
Looking to visit a couple of breweries at once? One way to be responsible is to choose a designated driver, but you could also book a brewery tour offered by Tap Tastings or City Brew Tours Cape Cod.
Cape Cod beer tour companies
“Our slogan is you drink, we guide,” said Mark Reade, co-owner of City Brew Tours Cape Cod.
Public tours don’t officially start until May, but City Brew Tours Cape Cod — a franchised branch of City Brew Tours, a national company founded in Vermont — will run a “Hyannis Taste of Cape Cod Tour” and a “Falmouth Taste of Cape Cod” tour. Prices were not available at press time. To book a private tour or to learn more about their upcoming public tours, visit www.citybrewtours.com/cape-cod/.
Private tours take a minimum of 10 people to some of the Cape’s breweries, wineries and distilleries — which is up to the customer but Reade does provide suggested stops.
“We're not like a drinking party bus,” Reade said. “We're bringing you to sample flights so you're sampling different kinds of beer in much smaller quantity, but you're getting the experience of trying what each brewery has to offer.”
Mashpee-based Tap Tastings provides a shuttle service, picking up guests and taking them from brewery to brewery, winery and/or distillery and sometimes restaurants in their van, aptly named Barley.
“This is great for people who just want to get together and want nobody driving,” Leslie Cozza, co-owner of Tap Tastings, said.
They offer three “levels” of service — “travel only/shuttle service,” “barley perks” and a pre-paid “inclusive service.” For the starting level, guests pay $120 per hour for the tour with pickup and drop off available within 20 miles of Tap Tastings' Mashpee HQ.
For more information about TapTastings or to book a tour, visit www.taptastings.com/.
A guide to beers brewed on the Cape and Islands
Aquatic Brewing (Falmouth)
Paying homage to their marine science backgrounds, Greg Horning and Alex Bergan, owners of Aquatic Brewing in Falmouth traded their lab coats for beer koozies in 2020 and now run the small batch, quality flavor brewery on the edge of downtown Falmouth.
“Our goal is to make a few beers really well rather than make many different beers in a mediocre fashion,” Horning said.
Aronnax: A New England IPA, the Arronax is one of Aquatic Brewing's more popular brews with the standard hazy and juicy New England taste.
Defendable Draft: Bergan’s current favorite, the Defendable Draft is an American Pale Ale with “ a piney resinous character with some nice citrusy notes,” Bergan said. "It's very well balanced.”
Tawaki: Horning’s current favorite, the Tawaki is a pale ale brewed from New Zealand hops. “It's (a) unique kind of tropical forward hop profile that I think is special,” he said.
Pie in the Sky: Named after Pie in the Sky Bakery and Cafe, this collaboration beer uses roasted coffee from Pie in the Sky to create a Coffee Oatmeal Stout.
Bay to Bay State: While this collaboration brew with Barnstable Brewing doesn’t hit the breweries until mid to late May, the West Coast IPA pays homage to Bergan and Barnstable Brewing Brewer Bryan Crass’ home state.
Aquatic Brewing is located at 661 Main St. in Falmouth. For a full list of what’s on tap and for their brewery hours, visit www.aquaticbrewing.com/.
Bad Martha (Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard)
With locations in Falmouth and Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, Bad Martha Beer brings a taste of the Cape and the Islands to its beers.
Mischievous Mermaid: Described by Josh Flanders, general manager of Bad Martha Beer, the Mischievous Mermaid has the same hazy and juicy flavors as a traditional New England IPA but the Cape Cod sea salt added to the brew makes it a “Cape Cod Style” IPA.
Martha’s Vineyard Ale: The flagship beer of Bad Martha, the Martha’s Vineyard Ale is an English-style pale ale, “medium-bodied ale,” according to Flanders, with notes of caramel and toffee.
508 IPA: The “staple IPA,” of Bad Martha, according to Flanders. The 508 IPA is hoppier and more balanced than a traditional New England-style IPA and has “a little more of a malt backbone.”
Big Bad Belgian Quad: With an ABV of 10.3%, the Big Bad Belgian Quad is exactly what it sounds like. “This is a very rich complex beer,” Flanders said. The beer is made from Belgian candied syrup and has a “malt forward body with hints of plum,” according to the website.
Bad Martha Beer is located at 270 Upper Main St. in Edgartown and 876 E Falmouth Highway in Falmouth, www.badmarthabeer.com/.
Naukabout Brewing (Mashpee)
Core to Naukabout Brewing Company’s values is having a good time. Even their name, a term coined by one of the Naukabout co-founders' father, means the things you do for fun when you’re done doing what you’ve got to. So, if you’re looking to “naukabout” with a beer in hand, here are a few to try:
Beach Hair: Described as their “kind of flagship IPA,” by co-owner Peter Murner, the Beach Hair is a New England IPA with tropical notes from the Citra, Mosaic and Idaho hops used in the brew, according to their website.
Dunes of the Cape: A “piña colada” milkshake IPA, the Dunes of the Cape might just be your tropical getaway in a glass as hints of pineapple and coconut shine through the brew.
Cape Lager: For Murner, the Cape Lager is “our version of a domestic beer for the folks that like something akin to (a) Miller, Coors, Budweiser type product.” An easy drinker and a crowd-pleaser.
Millie Vanillie: Millie Vanillie is “a cream soda milkshake IPA,” according to Murner. “(It) almost tastes like cream soda.”
Naukabout Brewing is located at 13 Lake Ave. in Mashpee with their second “Garden Party” location in the Mashpee Commons, www.naukabout.com/brewery/.
Cape Cod Beer (Hyannis)
As the Cape’s original microbrewery, Cape Cod Beer knows a thing or two about making a good brew. With a constantly rotating menu — like many other breweries on the Cape — for the sake of this article, we’ve decided to highlight their six staple beers available year-round on tap and in cans.
Beach Blonde: According to brewer Carolyn Brooks, the Beach Blonde is what people think of when they think of Cape Cod Beer. The American Blonde Ale is “light and refreshing” with a “hint of toasted malt character,” according to their website.
Cape Cod Red: Named after the famous Nantucket Reds, this amber ale has hints of toffee with a “subtle spicy hop character,” according to the website, and is the original beer of Cape Cod Beer.
Cape Cod IPA: Don’t let the name fool you. This West Coast IPA is perfect for those looking for “something a little more bitter and more hoppy,” according to Brooks, with hints of citrus and malt.
Cape Cod Porter: For its year-round dark brew, the porter is a malty brew with flavors of toffee, caramel and chocolate. Apparently, it’s also good on ice cream.
Cape Cod Pilsner: “Crisp, clean and with a spicy hop,” the website reads, this pilsner is one of the few lagers brewed by Cape Cod Beer.
Narrow Lands: Finally, their New England IPA. Narrow Lands is “one of those easy, juicy IPAs,” according to Brooks, and tastes, the website says, "like grapefruit, guava, mango and orange rind."
Cape Cod Beer is located at 1336 Phinneys Lane in Hyannis, www.capecodbeer.com/.
Barnstable Brewing (Hyannis)
So, what does happen when two Jesuits walk into a brewery? The answer? Maybe you can find out by trying the beer of the same name at Barnstable Brewing.
Jesuit Juice: Jesuit Juice is a New England IPA with hints of citrus, like orange, peach and “a touch of floral pine notes,” according to Crass.
Two Jesuits Walk Into a Brewery: Essentially, it’s the “Double IPA version of Jesuit Juice,” according to Crass, with flavors of passionfruit and grapefruit.
Cape Crusher: The Cape Crusher is a Helles Light Lager made from water which imitates that of Munich “to kind of lend some more authenticity to it,” according to Crass. As for its taste, he says it’s a “light, bright, crisp, refreshing, easy drinker.”
Blueberry Ale: Made with Maine blueberries, the Blueberry Ale is Barnstable’s fruit beer. With a fruity and floral taste, the beer has a slight twang thanks to its malt backbone, according to the website.
Bay to Bay State: As mentioned earlier, the Bay to Bay State brew will be hitting taps in May, so keep an eye out for it.
Barnstable Brewing is located at 485 West Main St. in Hyannis, www.barnstablebrewing.com/.
Devil’s Purse Brewing (South Dennis)
With a staple beer, the Handline Kölsch, under their belt, Devil’s Purse is knocking brewing out of the park, the industrial park that is (they’re located inside of one.)
Handline Kölsch: The famous German-style beer, the Handline Kölsh is a fan and brewer favorite. Described simply as “crisp, clean and refreshing,” on their website, the beer is made for all drinkers, any time. “Anyone can drink it,” said Tim Reilly, owner of Devil’s Purse. “It's great in the summer, it's great in the winter.”
Spicy Pickle Lager: After creating an unexpected fan favorite last summer, their Spicy Pickle Lager, a collaboration with Lighthouse Keeper’s Pantry, returns on April 17. Inspired by Lighthouse Keeper’s dill pickles and habanero hot sauce, the lager quickly gained a following. “As weird as it sounds, pickle lager was actually drinkable and good,” Reilly said.
Charlene’s Dream: Along with the Kölsh, this Altbier is Reilly’s favorite brew. “It’s drinkable, dry and doesn’t have the fruity taste that ale yeast provides,” he said.
Devil’s Purse Brewing is located at 120 Great Western Road in South Dennis, www.devilspurse.com/.
Provincetown Brewing Co. (Provincetown)
At Provincetown Brewing Co. they pride themselves on being a gathering place for those at the lower end of the Cape as well as brewing some delectable beers.
“Our Taproom especially is a place to hang out,” Erik Borg, head of marketing and sales at Provincetown Brewing Co. said. “There's nothing better than sitting down, relaxing and enjoying a local craft beer, either as you're setting out to explore or taking a break from your explorations.”
The Bearded Mistress: The flagship IPA of Provincetown Brewing, The Bearded Mistress is a New England IPA with "really crisp floral undertones” and fewer hops flavor than most IPAs, according to Borg.
Golden Hook Ale: Another IPA, Golden Hook Ale is a “classic golden ale,” per Borg, with notes of citrus and a refreshing taste. Perfect for summer.
Crandaddy Sour: Made with Cape Cod cranberries, this fruited sour is “sour and tart” and “really crisp” according to Borg. “It's fantastic.”
Double Rainbow IPA: Provincetown’s “biggest beer” according to Borg, the Double Rainbow IPA has hints of caramel with a toned-down hoppiness compared to a standard IPA. Borg described this beer as “bold and brassy.”
Provincetown Brewing Co. is located at 141 Bradford St. in Provincetown, www.ptownbrewingco.com/.
Offshore Ale Company (Martha’s Vineyard)
Offshore Ale Company is the only brewery on the island brewing and selling beers year-round. Now, they send cans to the mainland to give non-islanders a sip of the Vineyard — and maybe a reason to make a trip.
Amber Ale: The flagship beer of Offshore Ale, the Amber Ale has a caramelly taste and a light and easy-to-drink body, according to Josie Iadicicco, brand ambassador for Offshore Ale Co.
East Chop Lighthouse Golden Ale: A Pilsner-style beer, this award-winner is crisp and “crushable,” says Iadicicco, popular with Islanders and mainlanders alike.
Beach Road Nut Brown Ale: A favorite of brewer Neil Atkins, this brown ale is low in bitterness with a “little bit of a bite” and a “subtle finish of bittersweet chocolate” per Iadicicco.
Menemsha Creek Pale Ale: Sold on the Island Queen, the ferry which runs to and from the Island, the Menemsha Creek is “clean and approachable,” a perfect fit for people looking for a less bitter beer than an IPA, according to Iadicicco.
Lazy Frog IPA: Made in collaboration with The Lazy Frog, a game store on the Vineyard, this IPA has a higher ABV at 7% and a more bitter taste with hints of citrus.
Islander Double IPA: Named after the retired steamship ferry, this Double IPA is bold and bitter with “citrus aromas” according to Iadicicco.
Offshore Ale Company is located at 30 Kennebec Ave. in Oaks Bluffs, www.offshoreale.com/.
Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and things to do. Contact her at frowley@capecodonline.com.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod breweries: where to get a craft beer and know what's in it
